Rain-signal.



F. A. MENG & L. G. SCHRADER.

RAIN SIGNAL.

APPUCATION FILED MAY 18, 1916.

?atented July 1?, 1917.

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L 613% radar 1 I fltrozncq TED STATE-S PATENT OFFICE.

.FREDERICK A. 'MENG AND LEE G. SCHRADER, OF FLINT, MICHIGAN; SAID MENG ASSIGNOR TO SAIDSCHRADER.

RAIN-SIGNAL.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 17, 1917.

Application filed May 18, 1 916. ScrialNo'. 98,429.

States, residing at Flint. in the county of Genesee and State of Michigan have invented certain new and useful "Improve- '"ments in Rain-Signals; and wedo hereby'declare the following to -be a full,-.clear, and exact description of the invention, such as willenableothers skilled in the a'rtto which it appertains tomake and use the same.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in rain signals and the principal object of the invention is to provide a signal circuit closer which is actuated by the falling of water into a trough.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device which is so constructed and so delicately adjusted that the same will operate when only a few drops of rain have fallen into the device.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a circuit closer which may be easily and cheaply constructed and which if so desired may be attached right to the window or other suitable place provided for its support or which may be portable to permit the device to be used in various places.

' A still further object of the invention is to provide a device having a contact plate over which a contact cup is supported into which the water is directed through suitable troughs which are arranged to catch some of the falling drops and direct them into the cup.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts which will be fully set forth in the following specification and accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a top plan view of a rain signal constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of Fig. 1.

Fig. i is a longitudinal sectional view through the device.

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view through the device, and

Fig. 6 is an end view of the same.

Referring to the drawing the numeral 1 designates the main body of the device pro vided with a central opening 2. The top face of the body is formed with a depression hereinafter described. .dina-l strip 6 is secured 'to'the under side of 3 having its bottom wall inclined so that its lower end terminates at the opening 2. Ex-

tending transversely of the device beneath the opening 2 is a strip 4 forming a contact the use of which will appearasthe description proceeds. A sultablemetalhc ring 5 is secured in the depressionB and this lining is formed in sections, the adjacent edges of wvhich project partially over the opening 2 I as illustrated in Fig. l to form lips for directing any liquid falling into the depression into the contact cup to be more fully A suitable longituthe body and is provided with the bowed portion 7 which curves downwardly as illustrated in Figs. l and 5 to avoid contact with the plate a where the strip crosses the opening and threaded into the central portion of the bowed portion 7 is screw 8 by means of which contact is established between the plate l and the strip 6. It will thus be seen that when the screw is in the position shown in Fig. 4 the contact will not be established, but when the screw is in a position illustrated in Fig. 5 electrical communication between the plate 4: and strip 6 will be had. The strip extends from a point substantially one-third distance from end of the body to the opposite end of the body and is turned up as at 9 and formed with the lateral extension 10 which is bent outwardly as at 11 and slotted to receive the conductor wires which will be more fully hereinafter described. A binding screw 12 is secured in the upwardly bent portion 9 and provides a means by which one of the conducting wires is connected to the strip.

Secured centrally of one of the side edges of the body is a suitable contact plate 13 carrying the binding screw l t and a bowed wire spring 15 is secured to said plate in any suitable manner and supports at its opposite end the inverted conical cup 16 which is positioned within the opening 2 and between the plate A and the overhanging portions of the lining 5. This cup is adapted to receive the liquid which, pours into the same from the lining 5 and it will be seen that when the cup fills the same will descend against the influence of the spring 15 so as to contact on the plate 4: to close an Copies of this patent may be obtained for automatically operated by the filling of the cup 16 with liquid. 7

In order to avoid interference with the screw 8 suitable supporting feet 17 may be attached to the opposite ends of the device as illustrated in Figs. 2, 8, and 4 and as shown in Fig. 4: one of these is cut away prising a body having a central opening as at 18 to accommodate the strip 6.

While in the foregoing there has been, shown and described the preferred embodiment of this invention, it is to be understood that such changes may be made in the combination and arrangement of parts as will fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

WVhat is claimed is 2- 1. A device'of the class described comprising' a contact plate forming one terminal of an alarm circuit, a cup resiliently suspended above said plate and forming the opposite terminal of an alarm circuit, said cup being adapted to move into engagement with the plate when filled with liquid to operate an alarm and means to direct liquid into the cup to cause the same to fill.

' 2. A circuit closer comprising a contact "plate, a bowed spring, a cup supported on the end of the spring and directly over the plate, means to direct liquid into the cup to cause the same to move into contact with the plate to complete an alarm circuit and means to disconnect the plate from the circuit.

.3. A device of the class described comtherein, the upper side of the body being provided with a depression having its lower portion at the point of the opening, a plate extending transversely of the opening at its lower end, a cup movable in the opening, a spring normally holding the cup out of engagement with the plate, the cup and plate each forming terminals of an alarm circuit and means to direct liquid into the cup from the depression to cause the cup to fill and five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, ID. 3. 

